According to current Census data on business formation, business applications for July 2021 totaled 454,460, an increase of 1.2 percent over June 2021.

Entrepreneurs in the United States were responsible for the development of nearly 2 million jobs, according to recent polls. To ensure business success and employee satisfaction, it is necessary to follow the national framework for beginning a business.

Professional service may help you keep your privacy, reduce unwanted mail, and ensure that you never miss a delivery because you left the workplace. However, there are so many companies that provide this service that deciding which is the best option for you might be tough.

 As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the top registered agent services available in the United States:

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness’ claim to fame is that they provide LLC and incorporation services for $39, which is less than most competitors charge, and that bundle includes a full year of registered agent service. As a stand-alone function, their registered agent service is also quite appealing, as ZenBusiness charges a moderate $99 per year for this service.

ZenBusiness’ finest feature, aside from their reasonably cost business creation services, is their outstanding customer feedback. We uncovered almost 4,700 online reviews of their services, almost all of which were good. Their customers are often bragging about how much money ZenBusiness saved them and how simple it is to use their services.

IncFile

Incfile’s business formation packages include an outstanding list of features, one of which is registered agent service. They include 12 months of registered agent service with any of their incorporation packages at no additional cost, and they also have one of the lowest annual renewal fees in the industry.

Incfile is a strong contender for anyone looking for a dependable and reasonable registered agent service. Plus, if you want to start a business online, they have a lot of add-on options that can really help you out (for example, they offer many custom documents, business contract templates, and more).

Incfile’s client feedback is another appealing feature. They have thousands of online reviews, almost all of which are really positive. Customer evaluations are a big strength for Incfile, with only a few bad ratings in comparison.

Northwest Registered Agent

For businesses wishing to start a business online, Northwest Registered Agent has high-quality services that are simple to use. This organization has no gimmicks or upsells, and its customer service is far superior to that of any other provider. Their services are offered in a straightforward, clear and simple manner, with a strong emphasis on their registered agent service, which is one of their most popular offers.

While there are cheaper solutions, Northwest offers volume discounts that reduce the price per state to about $100 per year if you need coverage in five or more states. They also began as a registered agent service organization over 20 years ago, and their service has been consistently improved since then.

Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service doesn’t stand out in any particular way, but they do a good job of providing dependable service in general.

Rocket Lawyer’s $149.99 pricing point isn’t ideal, but if you upgrade to their Premium legal services membership for $39.99 per month, you’ll get a 25% discount on registered agent service and free formation.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is another strong contender for the best registered agent service, especially given its large customer base. LegalZoom, being one of the most well-known incorporation services, allows you to work with a company that has extensive experience in the legal services industry.

Another part of their service that we like is their assurance of complete satisfaction. This warranty is one of the best in the market since you have 60 days to request a refund for any reason.

Harbor Compliance

Surprisingly, Harbor Compliance is considered a premium service when it comes to business forms, as they only provide this service to their major enterprise clients. They do, however, offer exceptional value in the field of registered agent service, with one of the most affordable national price points we’ve observed.

In addition to their competitive pricing, Harbor Compliance sends out annual report reminders far ahead of the due date, which is a nice added bonus for their registered agent service. Harbor Compliance also has a positive reputation among their clientele, and they even provide volume discounts.

InCorp

InCorp may be the best solution for you if you’re seeking the most affordable nationwide registered agent service. Their base rate is already very competitive, but with their volume discounts, you can get your annual cost down to about $67.

With their prepayment discount method, you may get some of the lowest registered agent service prices we’ve ever seen. They also have a significant number of clients, making them one of the most popular registered agent services in the country.

Final Thought

Each of these businesses has its unique set of advantages, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them. These services are all highly reputable and trustworthy, and their prices are significantly lower than those offered by the industry’s “leaders.”

Overall, we recommend ZenBusiness or Incfile if you’re seeking a company that offers both registered agent and LLC creation services. Are you looking for the industry’s most well-known firm? It’s worth taking a look at LegalZoom. Do you want to have access to the greatest customer service in the industry? Northwest Registered Agent appears to be a good match.

According to the United States Census Bureau, in August 2021 alone, more than 427,842 new business applications were filed in the US. Many of these new businesses will need a business phone system. Businesses are faced with a range of options when considered a small business phone system. Talkroute, an option for small businesses, may be the right choice. This article will explore how the features and packages offered by Talkroute simplifies day-to-day business.

Who is Talkroute and who are they suited for?

Talkroute is a small business phone system which utilises VoIP to assist small businesses to seem like INC 500 companies. By using Talkroute, users gain a more professional appearance due to the offered second phone number, caller queues, hold music, extensions, auto-attendants, and custom greetings. Users also gain a Talkroute account, which is accompanied by a user ID and password. The user ID and password, which are unique for each user, assists businesses in easier management of the phone lines. 

Talkroute is best for businesses who need a VoIP system with call center abilities. For businesses who have high call volumes, the multi-level auto-attendants, routing, and call stacking capabilities offered by Talkroute will assist in eliminating busy signals, long waiting times, as well as aggravating rerouting. Talkroute would also suit small businesses who need an affordable virtual phone number provider. Talkroute offers virtual phone numbers on all of its packages, ranging from toll-free, vanity, local, to 800 numbers.

What issues does Talkroute address?

Firstly, Talkroute keeps all personal and business calls separate. Their desktop and mobile apps allow users to make outgoing calls and send text messages with their company’s phone number displayed on the caller ID. Secondly, Talkroute offers call stacking which keeps callers in a queue. Callers will listen to hold music or a personalized greeting before a correspondent responds. Thirdly, Talkroute uses existing equipment owned by the business to cut costs. 

Features offered

• Virtual Phone Numbers. 
• Business Text Messaging. This allows businesses to send & receive text messages, text-to-email notifications, and more by using their business number. 
• Business Call Forwarding. This allows businesses to route their calls anywhere.
• Call Menu – Phone Tree. This allows businesses to create departments and send calls to groups and individuals.
• Extensions. This allows businesses to create unlimited extensions and send calls to any phone.
• Virtual Voicemail Service. 
• Mobile Application. Talkroute offers mobile apps to make outgoing calls, send and receive messages, and manage the business’ voicemail.
• Live Call Transfer. This allows businesses to transfer calls to any phone, department, or extensions. 
• Call Stacking. 
• Call Reporting. This offers businesses the opportunity to gain detailed call paths, easy to use filters and to export their data.

Packages offered

Talkroute offers four packages, namely Basic, Plus, Pro and Enterprise. 

• The Basic package is $19 per month and offers customer support at all times of the day. The package offers one local or toll-free number, one voicemail box and one account user. 500 SMS and MMS text messages are offered as well as unlimited incoming and outgoing calls. The package also offers unlimited call forwarding and routing, call stacking, custom greetings, as well as desktop, mobile, and web apps for macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.
• The Plus package is $39 per month and includes all Basic features. The package offers two local or toll-free numbers, unlimited text messaging, as well as three account users and voicemail boxes. A customized caller ID name is offered with an auto attendant/IVR call menu. Finally, the package offers single-digit phone extensions, call blast, live call transfer and the ability to configure hours of operation.
• The Pro package is $59 per month and includes all Plus features. The package offers three local or toll-free numbers, submenus and 10 account users and voicemail boxes. Unlimited multi-digit extensions are offered with company directory and professional voiceover services. Finally, the package offers call recording, scheduled call forwarding and downloadable call analytics.
• The Enterprise package starts at $99 per month and offers all Pro features. The package offers five local or toll-free numbers with 20 account users and voicemail boxes. A service-level agreement and business associate agreement is included, with an account management system, and custom software and solution integrations.

The bottom line

Talkroute is an affordable, easy-to-use phone system for businesses looking to add a business phone number to their mobile and desktop devices. The phone system offers a range of functionalities to provide professionality to small businesses without the addition of non-essential features. With their well-priced packages, Talkroute has been proven to be a good choice for businesses seeking a phone system to simplify their daily proceedings. 

Statistics regarding the formation of sole proprietorships in the USA show that there was an increase of 3.5% in recent years. The amount went up from 25.5 million to 26.4 million.

What is a Sole Proprietorship?

A sole proprietorship is a type of business structure and constitutes the simplest form. In fact, the form is so simple that a number of product or service providers may be operating as sole proprietors without realising it. This can include, for example, freelance photographers or someone providing paid childcare services to family and friends. 

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) provides  a simple yet comprehensive overview of sole proprietorship, explaining that it is an “unincorporated business owned and run by one individual with no distinction between the business and the owner,” and that such a person remains responsible for the business’ losses, debts and liabilities in their personal capacity, while also being entitled to all profits made by the business. Sole proprietorship is easy to establish and maintain and, given the lack of separation between business and business owner, works best for individuals who run low risk businesses. 

So, LLC and Sole Proprietorship: What is the Difference? Simply put, the major difference between forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and Sole Proprietorship is the separation between the business and the personal that an LLC affords. In this manner, the business owner is protected in their personal capacity from liability and debt incurred by their business. In contrast, a business owner and their business function as the same entity under a sole proprietorship, thereby leaving the owner open to liability for debt and losses if all does not go as planned with the business. Sole Proprietors are also not as well positioned to take advantage of tax benefits in the way that LLC owners are, due to the tax “pass through” tax policy of having an LLC. 

Step 1: Select a Name 

In order to establish credibility for your business, an appropriate name needs to be chosen for your business. As a sole proprietor, you may operate under your own given name without needing to register or clear it at all. If you choose to do business under any other name, a DBA (“Doing Business As”, also sometimes referred to as fictitious, assumed or trade name) will need to be filed with the city, county or state your business is located in.

Step 2: Purchase a Domain and Secure Social Media Handles

If you wish to promote your business online and establish a social media presence, attempt to purchase a suitable domain and secure the relevant available social media handles in line with the name you have chosen for your business. 

Step 3: Register for a Business License and/or any other License Your Business Requires to Operate Legally

This process can differ greatly between cities, counties, and states. The SBA can assist in providing information on how to register your sole proprietorship in your city and how to know which additional permits and licences your specific business may need for you to avoid any fines or potential legal issues.

Step 4: Obtain an EIN & Open a Business Bank Account

This step may not be necessary if you choose for your business structure to remain simplistic with you as the only employee. However, you will need to obtain an Employer Identification number (EIN) if you wish to open a business bank account, set up a retirement plan or hire help for your business. Opening a business bank account is advisable in order to maintain some separation from personal and business expenses, for tax and audit purposes.

Step 5: Insurance

While this step is not mandatory, it just makes good business sense given the exposure of the business owner under a sole proprietorship. Consult an insurance company to establish how best to protect yourself with coverage such as for liability, property and casualty and disability amongst others.

Final Thought

It is certainly worth considering whether Sole Proprietorship is the right business structure for you, given the risks outlined in this piece. In the event that it is the best fit for your business, registered sole proprietorship is a wonderful way of running a low maintenance small business and venturing into entrepreneurship the right way, limiting any potential issues with the IRS in future. Follow the 5 steps outlined here to start your thriving sole proprietorship!

According to McKinsey & Company, “2021 will be the year of transition”. Businesses are able to look forward to reshaping their futures post-pandemic. The pandemic has brought many challenges, and business trends have developed to solve these challenges. This article will explore some of the trends that will shape the next normal for businesses, especially when an entrepreneur is considering to start an LLC.

Remote working 

Due to the pandemic, remote working has been at the forefront of business trends since early 2020. Although remote working has proven to be effective, it is not completely successful as of yet. According to Techcrunch, leading investors do not believe that current services and tools solve remote working completely. Security, over Zoom, has been a concern, as well as front-of-office collaboration and personal remote process automation. Many businesses have started tackling these issues and there is huge expected growth in 2021.

Sustainability

Green energy has become a very attractive investment, seeing China, some of the Gulf States, and India invest in it. The US he began transitioning away from coal to green technologies such as batteries, carbon-capture methods and electric vehicles. Growth opportunities in the green economy seem to be substantial, especially across the energy, mobility and agriculture sectors. According to BlackRock, a global investment company, “contrary to past consensus,” they expect that the shift to sustainability will “help enhance returns” and that “the tectonic shift towards sustainable investing is accelerating.” 

The future is robots

Due to the pandemic, businesses have had to find ways to safely deliver products to their customers. Robotic delivery has been the answer by minimizing human contact. Large corporations such as Amazon, Google and FedEx currently use delivery robots. Businesses are able to latch on to this trend to reach more clients and become more efficient and safe. 

5G

The need for higher speed internet and well-connected homes has been the driving force behind the advancement of 5G, regardless of the conspiracies around it and its ‘connections’ to COVID-19. Companies like Verizon have announced the expansion of their 5G network in late 2021 and Ericsson, in China, has been rapidly deploying 5G. The expansion of 5G has been an opportunity for businesses to use it within their services. 

Higher value-added activities

Developing and emerging economies are seeing to be focusing on higher value-added activities in the global supply chain. Expanding service industries contributes to higher incomes which allows consumers to spend more money on goods and services which are considered to be non-essential. Examples of these industries are retailing, finance, education and hospitality. Seeing that e-commerce has become a popular way of doing business, businesses have latched onto this trend to reach more customers. An example of this is the partnership between Starbucks and Alibaba. The partnership allows Starbucks to expand its delivery services to 2,000 stores in 30 cities across China.

Sustainable finance

This type of finance considers environmental and social factors when investing. There has been a sharp growth in sustainable debt with the market reaching $1.7 trillion at the end of 2020. Sustainable finance, a growing trend, will most probably have business owners include net-positive social and ecological effects when pitching to investors. 

Virtual health care

Telehealth practices have been offered by healthcare institutions to lower the exposure of COVID-19 to their staff and patients. Although it is a common perception that primary care physicians and providers need to physically see their patients, studies have shown that 80% of these primary care services are able to be provided virtually. Since the start of the pandemic, telehealth visits have increased by 50%. This growth in telehealth care has provided an opportunity for businesses to advance and compete against other corporations in their industry. 

AI incorporation

It has been shown that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the focus for almost 50% of startup applications. Recent trends show that AI is advancing to become part of household technology and many other products, services and offerings. According to MassChallenge, AI will drive the meaningful next wave of disruption similar to software. This advancement has offered businesses the opportunity to improve on current technology and solve issues in the sector to compete with competitors. 

The Takeaway

Many of these mentioned trends have grown throughout 2021 and will continue to do so in the future to safeguard businesses from another catastrophe. For many businesses, worldwide, these trends offer a huge opportunity to launch themselves into success. Many entrepreneurs may choose to take advantage of these trends on American soil, should they meet state requirements. For this reason, choosing Florida LLC formation services may well be preferred, as pointed out by The Really Useful Information Company (TRUiC).

Carlsbad, CA-based entrepreneur Krishen Iyer is a thought leader when it comes to business and marketing strategies. One of his primary areas of focus in running MAIS Consulting is making sure businesses are able to achieve the success they need and deserve. Companies that are focused on reaching their intended audiences often perform better in this area than those that don’t have a similar focus, and Iyer can move those companies forward by working with them to boost email marketing conversions.

Marketing With Purpose is Vital, Says Krishen Iyer

Most marketers today have email programs that push advertisements and information out to people who have subscribed. These emails are also often targeted to those who have purchased similar items, signed up for something related to the company’s product or service, or otherwise indicated a level of interest. But are these marketers really marketing with the kind of purpose they should have? Before answering that question, they should be testing the emails they have and seeing whether they boost conversions.

Many of the marketers of today are not fully invested in what they should be doing to move their brand or company forward, believe my thought leaders in the industry. Krishen Iyer agrees that most marketers don’t test their emails and the ones that do often aren’t sure why they’re really doing the testing at all. They lack the level of passion they need for success. But Krishen Iyer knows there is much more to the issue than just random testing and hope. Passion, study, and determination are all important, too.

The Proof is in the Testing

Doing the same things over and over will yield the same results, but many marketers simply continue to follow through with what worked for them in the past. Unfortunately, that’s not a recipe for success. Audience demands and requirements change, notes Krishen Iyer, and when marketers don’t change with them, it can quickly become a recipe for problems and issues that may slow the success of any business. Fortunately, email testing can help to increase marketing conversions, when it’s done the right way.

Email is completely customer-centric, and Krishen Iyer understands the value of that level of focus. As an entrepreneur and consultant for businesses big and small, he helps empower companies to do more with what they have available to them. By building up and rebranding multiple companies, Iyer and his team at MAIS Consulting mentor their clients and work with them to achieve their desired outcomes. Marketing those companies is a big part of that, and without passion, that marketing falls flat.

However, testing emails and finding what works for marketing can make a significant difference in the success of the company and the value it adds to its customers. Strategic growth is one of the goals of nearly any company, and when there is a strong focus on that growth from the right angle, it’s difficult not to succeed. Testing emails is a large part of that since it becomes much more difficult to grow without an understanding of what is truly working and where the company is facing struggles and concerns.

Krishen Iyer Suggests Moving Beyond an Individual Campaign

The more that marketers test things like email campaigns, the more they can determine whether that campaign is a successful one. But Krishen Iyer also suggests that marketers need to move beyond individual campaigns. Testing teaches marketers what works for a campaign, but also what works for a segment of their email market. That gives them additional insight, and they can now use other, similar types of email campaigns for that same market segment.

Not all marketers think about doing that, and that inability to look to the big picture is often what holds them back. Krishen Iyer is a big picture kind of person and uses his knowledge to move MAIS Consulting to the forefront of its industry. He teaches companies that consult with him to do the same, so they can start advancing their goals more directly. When email testing is involved, and marketers use the information they collect to expand into additional campaigns, there’s much to be learned from the experience.

The insights gained can be added to email programs that are more extensive, with permanent streams where the content will change but the basic tenets and structure won’t. A winning result won’t come with just one email that saw success, but with a stream that’s consistently seeing success. The losing result can be replaced with something else, and the winning result can be kept on because it provides a degree of success that’s worthwhile.

Krishen Iyer sees not only the value of email testing to boost marketing conversions but the value of providing that kind of evaluative effort to other areas of the company, as well. Over time, that means that strategies that win continue to be used, and strategies that are less successful are dropped. The result is that the company continues to work its way toward better growth, higher quality, more success, and an increased level of value for its clients, all of which Iyer and MAIS Consulting can offer.

While we’ve seen a continued push from the government and some entrepreneurs to get their employees back into the office in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, recent figures from Remit Consulting have shown that this has yet to translate into any actionable change.

With an average of 16.6% occupancy last week, there has been no significant increase in the number of office workers returning to their desks, with this number up just 0.2% in relation to the previous seven days.

Given this and the potential for remote working to become increasingly commonplace in a post-Covid labour market, it’s reasonable to presume that many business-owners will be considering relocating or investing in an office fit-out in the near-term.

We’ll explore the latter idea in a little more detail below, by asking how you can successfully budget for your office fit-out.

Do You Need an Office Fit-out?

Even in the best-case scenario, the cost of office refurbishment and a comprehensive fit-out can represent a significant investment (especially in the current economic climate).

With this in mind, your first step should always be to determine whether or not you actually need an office fit-out, as there may be more suitable and affordable options in certain scenarios.

For example, let’s say that you’re switching to agile or hybrid working in the wake of the pandemic, and therefore want to focus on introducing hot desks and open-plan workspaces. As part of this process, you may also want to factor in social distancing measures by affording each employee more space in which to work, creating the need to reimagine your office interior completely and improve its ergonomics.

However, an office fit-out may not be the best or most cost-effective way of achieving broader goals, such as boosting the wellbeing or productivity of your workforce.

In these cases, you should consider less costly and incremental changes before commissioning a full office fit-out, such as creating a positive workplace culture, improving communication from the leadership and emphasising employee recognition.

What Factors Impact the Cost of an Office Fit-Out?

If you do decide to go ahead with an office fit-out, the next step is to consider the various factors that can impact the total cost. We’ve outlined some of the most important below, so that you can create a more realistic budget and manage your expectations accordingly:

• #1. The Type of Work Required: Not all fit-outs are created equal, as while some require a few cosmetic tweaks, others demand new flooring, additional partitions and similar structural changes. This will have a direct impact on the cost per sq ft, so you’ll need to have a clear understanding of your requirements from the outset. Similarly, you should consider your choice of ICT and AV systems, which offer flexibility in the case of agile working and allow for superior design and aesthetics.

• #2. Your Finish and Furnishings: Fit-out costs per sq ft are also impacted by your choice of furniture and fittings, which in turn depends on your office occupancy levels and core number of employees. Typically, the cost of office furniture ranges from £400 to £700 per individual, so you’ll need to include this as a key part of your budget. Another important factor is your choice of finish, as the cost difference between basic and premium interior finishes can be deceptively high.

• #3. Your Timeline: If you’re switching to a new office space or looking to introduce hybrid or agile working as soon as possible, you’ll also need to create a relevant and realistic timeline for the completion of the fit-out. Of course, projects with shorter timelines may drive increased labour costs, while you’ll have less opportunity to spread out the workload and manage your spending over an extended period of time.

Of course, other universal factors include the age and nature of your building and whether or not it has raised floors (which are ideal for the optimal distribution management and power supply).

You’ll also need to include any budgetary factors that are unique to your circumstances, so preparation is key when creating your budget.

The Last Word

By determining the precise motivation for your office fit-out and understanding the individual factors that impact the eventual cost, you can hopefully make informed decisions as an entrepreneur.

Most importantly, you can determine just how viable it is to conduct an office fit-out, before creating a realistic budget that’s manageable and capable of delivering a return on your investment!